Main Technologies and Assets
BSP uses Blast Furnace technology for iron making and CCS route of steel making. The Plant produces continuously cast steel slabs, blooms and billets through Slab, Bloom & Billet Casters. The CONCAST route of steel making is also equipped with secondary refining units like Vacuum Arc Degassing (VAD), Ladle Furnace & RH Degasser to produce the clean steel.
These cast products are rolled into long and flat products through Rolling Mills which include Rail and Structural Mill (RSM), Plate Mill (P Mill), Wire Rod Mill (WRM) and Merchant Mill (M Mill) that were established during the 1 to 4 MT stage.
The technology has been upgraded and updated with every modernization and expansion and also through continual assimilation of state of the art technology for product and process improvements. The Plant produces cleanest steel with Hydrogen in rail steel less than 1.6 ppm. World-class long rail manufacturing complex at RSM has sophisticated technologies viz. Online Eddy Current & Ultrasonic Testing Machines for Rails, Laser Straightness Measurement, Laser Controlled Presses for Rails, etc.
Plate Mill also has advanced facilities for ensuring high product quality such as – Online Ultrasonic Testing Machine, Hydraulic Automatic Gauge Control (HAGC), Plan View Rolling (PVR), Normalizing Furnaces, etc.
As part of the Plant’s 7 MT Modernization & Expansion (MODEX) programme, cutting edge technologies for expanding product profile, improvement in productivity, yield, quality, cost competitiveness, energy efficiency and environmental protection have been installed. New Modex units include Blast Furnace No 8, Steel Melting Shop 3, Universal Rail Mill & Bar & Rod Mill.
Captive mines
Iron Ore - Dalli-Rajhara Iron Ore Complex (IOC), 80 kms from Bhilai.
Rowghat Mining Project, situated 80 kms from Dalli-Rajhara IOC is being developed to meet future iron ore requirements of the Plant.
Limestone – Nandini, 23 kms from Bhilai
Dolomite - Hirri, 150 kms from Bhilai
Coke Ovens
- 8 Batteries of 4.3 metre height with 65 ovens each
- 3 batteries of 7 metre height with 67 ovens each
Sinter Plants
- SP 2 3 machines of 75 sq metre hearth area & 1 machine of 80 sq metre hearth area
- SP 3 1 machine of 320 sq metre hearth area & 1 machine of 360 sq metre hearth area
Blast Furnaces
- 1 Blast furnace of 1033 cu.m useful volume
- 3 Blast furnaces each of 1719 cu.m useful volume
- 1 Blast furnace of 2355 cu.m useful volume
- 1 Blast furnace of 4060 cu.m useful volume
Steel Melting Shop 2 -
Steel-making through BOF, VAD/Ladle Furnace/RH-Degasser and Continuous casting route
Converter Shop
- 3 converters of 110/130 T
- Secondary Refining facilities: VAD unit, 2 nos of RH degasser,2 nos of Ladle furnace, 1 Desulphurisation Unit
- 4 Slab Casters
- 1 bloom caster
- 1 Combi caster
Continuous Casting Shop: 4 Slab Casters, 1bloom caster, 1Combi caster
Steel Melting Shop 3 –
Steel-making through BOF, Ladle Furnace/RH-Degasser and Continuous casting route
SMS-3 consists of 3 main technological packages:
- Basic Oxygen Furnace
- Continuous Casting Plant
- Secondary Refining Unit
SMS 3 has three Converters of 180 Tonne capacity, and 3 Casters in operation, including 2 Billet Casters and 1 Bloom Caster. The Secondary Refining Units comprise of Ladle Furnace, RH Degasser, and Argon Rinsing Station.
Rail & Structural Mill
Products
- Rails - R52 Kg/m & R60 Kg/m ; UTS 880 N/mm2 rails as per IRST-12/96 specifications, Euronorms and international standards.
- New Grade & Profile – R260/60E1 is now being rolled & supplied to Indian Railways.
- Thick web asymmetric rail Zu 1-60
- Beams - 600,500,450,400,350,300 & 250.
- Channels - 400,300 & 250.
- Angles - 200 & 150.
- Crossing Sleeper.
- Crane Rails - KP80, 100,120 & 140.
Merchant Mill
Products
- Plain Rounds : dia 28, 32, 36, 40, 50, 53, 56, 63 & 67
- TMT Bars : 25, 28, 32, 36, 40 & 45
- Lt. Structurals : Channel 100 x 50, 75 x 40
- Angles : 50 x 50 x 5 upwards to 90 x 90 x 10
Customized product campaigns are being taken up for shorter durations in case of light structurals and rounds for compliance of smaller quantity orders as per committed delivery within the month.
Wire Rod Mill
Plain Wire Rods in 5.5, 6, 7, and 8 mm.
TMT: 8, 10, and 12 mm.
Plate Mill
Plates thickness - 8-120 mmWidth- 1500-3270 mm
Length - 5-12.5 M
The Plate Mill rolls out heavy and medium plates, as well as those for pipe manufacturers. Plates of wide variety, in any required size, and strength, chemical and physical properties, can be produced here. It has capacity to produce high pressure, boiler quality and high tensile steels. Some of the unique features of the mill are on-line finishing facilities and off-line normalising facilities. Bhilai has one of the widest plate mills in the country, and it uses continuously cast slabs as input. Liquid steel produced under controlled conditions in the LD Converters is rinsed with argon gas to homogenise the composition as well as to remove non-metallic inclusions before continuous casting so as to ensure the production of high quality feedstock for the Plate Mill. As per customers' requirement or specifications, plates are normalised in a roller hearth normalising furnace.
AUXILIARY UNITS
Two Power Plants – Two Captive Power & Blowing Stations. In addition, Power Plant 2 locate inside BSP is in joint venture with NTPC (NSPCL) . Power also being drawn from another joint venture power plant PP 3
Oxygen Plants- Two including one captive Oxygen Plant (OP 2) and one BOO Plant run by Praxair
Refractory Materials Plants – Two RMPs for production of calcined dolomite & lime
Foundry & Engg Shops for captive manufacture of spares, assemblies, mould and forging
Coal Chemicals units for recovery of various coal chemicals / by products from coal carbonisation
NEW FACILITIES ADDED AS PART OF 7 MT MODERNISATION & EXPANSION:
As part of the Plant’s 7 MT Modernization & Expansion (MODEX) programme, cutting edge technologies for improvement in productivity, yield, quality, cost competitiveness, energy efficiency and environmental protection have been installed.
A snapshot of BSP’s Modex facilities is placed below:
2.8 MTPA BLAST FURNACE 8 -
Named Mahamaya, the new blast furnace with modern design has a useful volume of 4060 cubic metre and capacity of producing 8030 tonnes of hot metal per day and 2.8 million tonnes per annum.
Blast Furnace 8 has various new generation technological features like cast house and stock house dedusting system, top pressure recovery turbine (TRT), pulverised coal injection (PCI), modern Heat transmission System through carbon block, ceramic cup and SGI & Cu-staves and other state of the art energy-efficient and pollution control equipment including Waste Heat Recovery system.
4 MTPA STEEL MELTING SHOP 3 -
The new and modern SMS III with state of the art technology consists of 3 main technological packages:
- Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF)
- Continuous Casting Plant
- Secondary Refining Unit
SMS 3 has three Convertors of 180 Tonne capacity and 3 Casters in operation, including 2 Billet Casters and 1 Bloom Caster. The Secondary Refining Units comprise of Ladle Furnace, RH Degasser, and Argon Rinsing Station.
Process: Hot metal from Blast Furnace 8 is transported in Torpedo Ladles to Hot Metal Handling Area of SMS 3 where it is poured into Hot Metal Ladle of SMS 3. The Hot Metal ladle is then lifted with the help of 300 Tonne capacity cranes of SMS 3. Hot metal is processed and converted to crude steel in 180 Tonne capacity Convertors. Subsequently, secondary refining and altering of chemistry of crude steel as per requirement of end use of steel is done in Ladle Furnace and RH Degasser. The crude steel thus processed is then cast into billets and blooms in different casters of SMS 3.
1.2 MTPA Universal Rail Mill -
The 1.2 MTPA Universal Rail Mill that has state of the art technologies for universal rolling, finishing & testing, would help SAIL to meet the increased demand for 260 metre rails from the Indian Railways, as also other grades as head-hardened rails to meet requirement for high-speed rail transport and freight corridors.
Universal Rail Mill produces and supplies rails in rolled lengths upto 130 metre - the world’s longest rail in single piece to Indian Railways, and welded panels upto 260 metre.
A new grade of rails – R260 with new profile 60E1 developed recently is now being rolled out and supplied to Indian Railways as per the requirement. Besides, the new Mill is also being equipped with online head hardening facility to meet the Railway’s requirement of head hardened rails.
0.9 MTPA Bar & Rod Mill -
The Bar & Rod Mill is equipped to produce a wide range of products including Wire rod in Coil, TMT Rebar in Coil, TMT Rebar Straight and Quality Bar in Straight length in diameter ranging from 5.5 mm to 60 mm.
The special grade steels that would be rolled in the new mill include Low, Medium & High Carbon Steel, Spring Steel, Bearing, Low Alloy, Free Cutting & Welding etc. will help SAIL and BSP sustain leadership in the highly competitive market for steel used in construction and infrastructure sector.
Besides the wide product range (5.5 mm to 60 mm) and Flexibility of product mix (Wire Rod, TMT Bar, Quality Bar), the new Mill ensures high quality of final products, including SAIL Secure grade of products.
The new mill is equipped with Fully Automatic Digital type walking beam furnace. The high speed of rolling and Ready to Roll concept also ensures high productivity.
The user-friendly automation system ensures minimisation of Operating Personnel. The compact Design of the mill and optimisation of input material temperature also results in substantial Energy Savings.
Refractory Materials Plant 3 -
Refractory Materials Plant 3 has five kilns for production of lime and calcined dolomite – each of 450 tonnes/day capacity. A fully automated plant with computerized operations, the new plant is equipped with dedusting system, gas cleaning plant and dust suction facilities, making it an environment friendly unit. The kilns are gas fired as against the conventional oil-fired system, making it energy efficient as well.
OTHER MODEX UNITS –
- New 7 M tall Coke Oven Battery No. 11
- Additional sinter machine in existing Sinter Plant No. 3 of 360 sq.m.
Bhilai Steel Plant Production Facilities At A Glance
Coke Ovens Batteries: 11 Nos.
- 8 batteries of 4.3m height consisting of 65 ovens each
- 3 batteries of 7m height consisting of 67 oven each (COB-11: MODEX unit) Blast Furnaces: 6 Nos.
- 1 Blast furnace of 1033 cu.m useful volume
- 3 Blast furnaces each of 1719 cu.m useful volume
- 1 Blast furnace of 2355cu.m useful volume
- 1 Blast furnace of 4060 cu.m useful volume(BF-8: MODEX Unit) Sintering Plants: 2 Nos.
- SP-2: 3x75sq.m hearth area and 1x80sq.m hearth area
- SP-3: 1x320sq.m hearth area and 1x360 sq.m hearth area (M/c-2: MODEX unit)
Steel Melting Shops
Steel Melting Shop-2
Steel Melting Shop-3
Convertor Shop
- 3 Converters
- Hot Metal Desulphurisation Unit
- Secondary Refining facilities: VAD, RH Degasser & Ladle Furnaces
- 4 Slab Casters, 1 bloom caster, 1 Combi caster
- 3 Convertors
- Hot Metal Desulphurisation Unit (under advance stage of commissioning)
- Secondary Refining Facilities – RH Degasser & Ladle Furnace
- CCS: 3 Casters (2 billet & 1 Bloom Caster) in operation
Mills
- Rail & Structural Mill
- Modex Unit - 1.2 MTPA Universal Rail Mill
- Plate Mill
- Merchant Mill
- Wire Rod Mill
- MODEX Unit - 0.9 MTPA Bar & Rod Mill
Auxiliary Units
- Two Power Plants – one captive and other in joint venture with 104MW total power generation capacity.
- Two Oxygen Plants including one BOO Plant
- Refractory Materials Plants, including MODEX unit RMP 3
- Foundry & Engg. Shops
- Shops - Coal Chemicals units
- Slag granulation plants
Bhilai Steel Plant Production Facilities At A Glance
Coke Ovens Batteries: 11 Nos. |
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Blast Furnaces : 6 Nos. |
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Sintering Plants : 2 Nos. |
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Steel Melting Shops | |
Steel Melting Shop 2 |
Convertor Shop:
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Steel Melting Shop 3 |
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Mills |
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Auxiliary Units |
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Quality Assurance
ISO 9001 SEAL OF QUALITY -All major production units and marketable products in Bhilai Steel Plant are covered under ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System. This includes manufacture of blast furnace coke and coal chemicals, production of hot metal and pig iron, steel making through twin hearth and basic oxygen processes, manufacture of steel slabs and blooms by continuous casting, and production of hot rolled steel blooms, billets and rails, structurals, plates, steel sections and wire rods.
Bhilai's products come with a complete assurance of quality. This is achieved as a result of unrelenting attention and meticulous procedures at every stage of the process and upgrading of testing methods and equipment.
Right from selection of input material for steelmaking, the process parameters are kept under close control. Intensive checking of all quality parameters continues throughout the subsequent operations of casting, reheating and rolling. Express analysis with the help of sophisticated, direct-reading spectrograph and gas analyser ensures a narrow range of chemical composition. Intensive metallographic investigation with modern instruments like Scanning Electron Microscope, Image Analyser and Micro Hardness Tester is carried out to assess the quality of the product.
The key points of control are :
- Chemical analysis of hot metal, liquid steel and final product.
- Inspection of surface and internal quality of the product by visual and ultrasonic inspection.
- Monitoring and control of heating/reheating parameters.
- Dimensional and surface check during rolling and on finished product.
- Maintenance of cast identity throughout the process up to the end product
Environment Management
A conscious corporate citizen, BSP has accorded the highest priority to taking effective measures in the areas of resource conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction and conversion of waste to wealth. Effective monitoring and analysis has ensured that BSPs compliance is well within the regulatory requirements.
ISO 14001 certification has been implemented in the entire Plant & township as well as in Dalli Mines. The plant has introduced environment friendly coal dust injection system in the Blast Furnaces for fuel/energy conservation, state of the art Bag filters & and electrostatic precipitators for pollution control in other units. Besides, the Plant has introduced clean/energy efficient technologies for green house gas reduction. BSP has also completely eliminated CTC, the major Ozone Depleting Substance in collaboration with UNDP. All other major Ozone depleting substances like Halon, CFC-12 etc have also been replaced with other less ODP substances.
The specific water consumption in BSP at 2.76 cu.m per tonne of crude steel is one of the lowest in the country.
BSP has also under taken Carbon & Water Footprint studies in partnership with IIT-Bombay, in view of the modernization/expansion & to understand the impact of changes that occur in processes on emissions, understand and manage their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) risks in order to maintain their license to operate, to ensure long term success in a competitive business environment, and to comply with national or regional policies aimed at reducing corporate GHG emissions Abiding by Corporate Responsibility for Environment Protection (CREP) guidelines & monitoring mechanism, Bhilai has also taken adequate steps to check fugitive emissions from Coke Ovens. It has installed Air cooled self sealing doors, HPLA system, water sealed AP caps and Pusher car with door cleaning mechanism have been installed Coke oven Batteries for emission control. In New Battery-11 other state of the art technologies like Coke dry quenching system with a provision for waste heat boiler & generator tor 4MW power generation.
Modex unit, Blast Fce 8 has been equipped with 14 MW Top Recovery Turbine (TRT) for effective utilization of top gas pressure of the furnace. This furnace has also been installed with ESP-based cast house de-fuming system and stock-house de-dusting system
Modex Unit SMS 3 has been installed with a secondary emission control system/dog house for complete elimination of roof top emissions from the convertors during metal blowing.
The new rolling mills under MODEX are equipped with low Nox burners & energy efficient walking beam furnaces. All the MODEX units are provided with local waste water treatment& recycling systems for water conservation.
A project for safe disposal of Poly choro bi-phenyls (PCBs) declared as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as per Stockholm convention is on final stages of completion. This prestigious project of national importance is being implemented by BSP in partnership with UNIDO & MoEFCC. This project is first of its kind in India, for PCB destruction, which will help not only SAIL but also the entire Indian industry & govt. of India in general in complying with Stockholm convention for prevention of POPs. This is the first of its kind in India for the disposal of PCBs
Energy Management
Bhilai Steel Plant has been certified with ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management System (EnMS) in 15 Works departments, this covers the entire scope of Integrated steel making covering production of coke, sinter, iron and steel making and rolling of finished steel products .
As a responsible corporate citizen, Bhilai Steel Plant is committed to optimally utilize all forms of energy in an environmentally sustainable manner and continuously strives to
- Conserve all forms of energy resources, purchased and self-generated, by judicious allocation, waste minimization and waste energy recovery through Best Available Technologies (BAT) like Top Pressure Recovery (TRT) in Blast Furnace 8, Back Pressure Turbo Generators (BPTG) in Coke Dry Cooling Plant (CDCP) in Coke Oven Battery no. 11, LD Converter Gas Recovery, Waste Heat Boilers in DCDA acid plant and Evaporative Cooling System in Plate Mill, by-product gas fired captive power plant boilers, by product gas fired refractory kilns,etc.
- Reduce specific energy consumption by identifying areas with significant energy saving potential and incorporating suitable energy efficient processes, equipment and technologies like Walking Beam Furnaces in Rolling Mills, energy efficient Coke Oven Battery, Blast Furnace -8, LD Converters, etc,
- Comply with all statutoryand legal requirements like PAT, Mandatory Energy Audits and RPO related to energy use, consumption and efficiency
- Promote energy saving culture by creating awareness about energy efficiency and energy conservation
Human Resource Development
About 18,500 employees and 2,500 contractual workers are imparted training every year at Human Resource Development Center (HRDC), Bhilai Management Development Center (BMDC), 10 In Plant Training Centers, and Mines Vocational Training Institute (MVTI), Rajhara.
Training need assessment is a continuing process which is captured online through Training Information Management System (TIMES) module.
The focus is on need-based innovative programs, such as Technical / Managerial Training (including training for MODEX units through OEMs like Siemens, ABB, Bosch Rexroth and SKF), shop-specific Performance Improvement Workshops (PIWs) and Learning from Each Other (LEO) Workshops, and other specialized modules online / offline on Quality Concepts, Environment Management, Action Centered Leadership, Preventive Vigilance, Transactional Analysis, Emotional Intelligence, CSR, Safety, etc.
Training also imparted to MSMEs, Academic Institutions, Vocational Trainees, Apprentices, and Fresh Entrants.
Central and Public Library with approx. 80,000 books, journals, magazines, newspapers and Technical Standards is run by HRD Dept.
Clean & Green City
Contrary to the popular perception about industrial townships being dirty and polluted, a green canopy covers the township. A green-fingered population and a management aware of its obligations as a corporate citizen have come together for a massive tree-plantation drive over a period of years as a result of which afforestation sites and green expanses enrich the environment in mining and peripheral areas. There are five big gardens inside the plant and 15 gardens in the township. The cumulative plantation in the Works area and township is more than 30 lakhs while in the Mines, it is more than 22 lakhs. Spread over 167 acres, the sprawling Maitri Bagh that has one of the biggest musical fountain in the country, a zoo with 38 species of animals and birds, an artificial lake with boating facilities, a toy train etc., attracts over 10 lakh visitors every year.
The residential sectors of the steel city are kept clean and green by the Plant s Town Services Department which also undertakes the civic amenities such as street lighting, cleaning and maintenance of the tree lined carpeted roads. The water to the township is supplied from the Maroda water treatment plant having a capacity of over 30 million gallons per day. Water is distributed throughout the township through a system of underground reservoirs and overhead tanks
Employee Welfare
Beginning as a frontier town planted in the broad plains of erstwhile Madhya Pradesh in the late fifties by the Government of India, Bhilai is now a booming and bustling cosmopolitan town on the move and the premier industrial centre of Chhattisgarh with the Bhilai Steel Plant as its hub. Bhilai is today the nerve centre of nearly all enterprise and activity in the region economic, social and cultural, education & sports. Bhilai continues with the broad philosophy of making the best use of its assets of production at its command while ensuring the best possible life for its employees, their families and the community at large.
Spread over 9103 acres, the steel township is divided into 16 sectors. Each sector is self-sufficient with schools, health centre and shopping complex. 535 kms of well maintained wide carpeted roads and lush green surroundings are its distinguished features.
The 20 odd schools run by BSP including those in the mines have over 14,000 students. The competitive and conducive environment in which wards of employees as well as non BSP students study in these schools has enabled scores of students to get into professional colleges and institutions of the country every year.
The fact that Bhilai has produced two IIT-JEE toppers and continues to send hundreds of students to the top educational institutions of the country every year is ample testimony of the quality of education in the steel city. Scholarships amounting to over Rs 1.2 crore are given away to students every year for their higher education.
Medical & Health Services
At the apex of an elaborate health care network, BSP s JLN Hospital & Research Center, an 860 bedded high tech hospital, is the most reputed hospital of this area, which caters to not only Bhilaians but also to the population in the adjoining areas of Bhilai. Equipped with modern diagnostic facilities as MRI, Spiral CT scan, cardiac cath lab, ultrasound Doppler, BERA unit, Bone mineral densitometry, Phacoemulsification, Gamma Camera, Laser photocoagulation, Elisa Reader, Endoscopy, digital substraction angiography, nuclear medicine etc., the average annual OPD attendance in this hospital is over 10 lakhs. The number of indoor patients at about 40,000 indicates the reputation of JLN Hospital to deal with serious cases. The JLN Hospital also caters to non entitled patients.
Besides, Bhilai has several Health Centres and hospitals including those in the Mines, a National Occupational Health & Service Centre and a Main Medical Post inside the Plant. As a centre for excellence in the region, intricate operations like pediatric surgery, neuro surgery and laproscopy are routinely done here. A separate cancer hospital is run at BSP s Sector 1 Hospital.
The plant runs a College of Nursing in Bhilai. Numerous nurses have passed out from this college, finding employment both within and outside the state. Affiliation has been given to Nursing Schools in the region and regular teaching and hospital-based training is provided to these schools.
Covid Care At Bhilai Steel Plant
It is now more than a year that the entire world is grappling with the health crisis posed by COVID 19. Even as more and more people get infected, there is a large section of our population that has recovered from COVID, thanks to the superhuman efforts being put in day and night by doctors, nurses ¶ medical staff.
All of this would not have been possible without the right kind of medical and respiratory support equipment made available at the right time for hospitals spread all across the country.
SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant s JLN Hospital & Research Centre is one such hospital that has over the past one year grown to be the largest COVID hospital in the state of Chhattisgarh.
- The number of COVID patients rose exponentially in the state of Chhattisgarh in the past several months. During this entire period, the COVID wards and ICUs of this Hospital have resembled a war zone.
- Doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and administrators of this hospital have spared no effort in taking care of thousands of employees, their dependents and elderly citizens including retired personnel who are eligible for treatment.
- Facilitating the COVID treatment at this hospital has been an array of equipment including ventilators, CPAP machines, BIPAP in ICUs and High Dependency Units for critical patients. The need for acquiring more such equipment was acutely being felt even as number of patients coming to this hospital increased.
- The timely support from Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Steel in making available ventilators and CPAP machines for SAIL-Bhilai has acted like a ventilator for the Doctors treating such a large number of COVID patients.
- As many as 8000 Covid patients have been treated in this hospital in Bhilai so far. With the recent rise in number of patients, the number of beds with oxygen facility has been increased to 594, including 560 beds with piped oxygen supply. Steps are being taken to extend piped oxygen supply to all the 860 beds in the Hospital.
- As against 9 ventilators in pre Covid period there are now 24 ventilators in this hospital. The number of ICU beds has been increased from 5 in pre Covid period to 17 now.
- Among the new facilities installed in this hospital for COVID treatment are High Dependency Units with as many as 25 beds, 20 beds with new C PAP machines and 10 beds with new Bi PAP machines. While both C PAP and Bi PAP machines act as mini-ventilators, the High Dependency Units serve as mini-ICUs.
- Apart from five ventilators, the Govt of India has made available as many as 10 C PAP machines to Bhilai Steel Plant free of cost to facilitate COVID treatment at the JLN Hospital. Four numbers of Oxygen Concentrators have been provided by the Govt of India to SAIL-BSP out of which 3 are being used in the Dalli-Rajhara Mines Hospital and one in Hirri Mines.
- The CPAP machines have come as foreign Aid and have been allocated by the Ministry of Health to the PSEs under the Ministry of Steel for meeting the requirement of critical breathing apparatus for Covid patients, in the far flung and high burden areas, where getting regular and continuous supply of oxygen in cylinders has been a challenge. Allocation of these CPAP machines by the Government of India to SAIL hospital in BSP has been lauded as a timely help in saving lives of people suffering from Covid in the Bhilai/Durg region.
- Besides in-patient treatment, around 31,000 persons have been tested for COVID at four centres including one inside the Plant. A special Flu-Clinic was set up where more than 35,000 Covid-suspect persons were given medical guidance.
- Bhilai Steel Plant has undertaken vaccination on a large scale with about 22,000 vaccinations administered so far at different centres including one inside the Plant for employees as well as contractual workers. Besides a large number of Covid patients have been advised home isolation. Medicine kit is given to such patients and their condition is monitored telephonically regularly by a team of doctors.
- Apart from the treatment, testing and vaccination, a special task force supervises and closely monitors all facilities required for COVID treatment. While a special COVID Help Desk has been constituted to satisfy numerous queries that come in as regards treatment and medicines, a post Covid care OPD has also been started. With the load on medical & health services increasing by the day at the hospital, a special drive was taken to recruit doctors, nurses and para medical staff.
- A Jumbo Covid Care Centre next to the steel Plant and Fire Station has been set up with direct gaseous oxygen supply to as many as 114 beds, and all other necessary facilities.
Sports & Culture
The steel city of Bhilai throbs with sports and cultural activities all year round. With six stadia, National Handball Academy, SAIL Athletics Academy and other sports infrastructure and coaching facilities that would be the envy of any city, Bhilai has produced sportsmen and women by the dozen. Besides outstanding sportspersons such as Rajendra Prasad who represented India at the Barcelona Olympics, cricketer Rajesh Chauhan, Krishna Sahu who won bronze at the Asian Powerlifting Championship in Seoul, shuttler Sanjay Mishra, Aniruddha who bagged silver in 50 km walk-event at the 5th National Games, several boys and girls trained in basketball have represented the game at national and international levels. Over a hundred national and state championships have been organized in Bhilai since the formation of Chhattisgarh state in the year 2000. Bhilai is also the cultural hub of the region. The Plant has for decades provided platforms like open music & dance competitions for expression of talent in young citizens of the steel city. The annual Chhattisgarh Lok Kala Mahotsav that Bhilai has been organising for more than three decades remains the piece-de resistance of our cultural scene providing an ideal launching pad for many lesser-known folk artists to achieve national and international fame. Among Bhilai s cultural ambassadors, renowned Panwani exponent Padma Vibhushan Smt Teejan Bai and late Devdas Banjare and his Panthi dance troupe have been household names.
Such auditoriums as Nehru House of Culture and Kala Mandir provide stage to scrores of cultural activities including performing arts every year. The Nehru Art Gallery has hosted hundreds of exhibitions for artists in the region. Many multilingual/multicultural groups are affiliated to the Sports & Cultural Dept of BSP.
Recreation When the steel men with their families take time off from the rigours of steel making, the 167 acre Maitri Bagh offers a perfect setting for recreation. An oasis of tranquility, one of the biggest musical fountain adds to the beauty of Maitri Bagh that already boasts of well laid lush lawns, biggest zoo in the region with birds, animals and reptiles including white tigers and other endangered species, boating in artificial lake, toy train and Pragati Minar offering a panoramic view of the steel plant and surroundings.
Besides the Bhilai Club and Steel Club, the Plant has several Ispat Clubs in different residential sectors for employees to spend quality time after working hours. Apart from several parks dotted all across the township, Karmanya Vatika at Civic Centre is a popular attraction.